Rule 198.Requests for Admissions

Last amended September 1, 2023 · Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 198 lets a party ask another to admit the truth of facts or the genuineness of documents, and treats a matter as admitted if the other side does not respond on time.

Full Text of Rule 198

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198.1 Request for Admissions. A party may serve on another party - no later than 30 days before the end of the discovery period -written requests that the other party admit the truth of any matter within the scope of discovery, including statements of opinion or of fact or of the application of law to fact, or the genuineness of any documents served with the request or otherwise made available for inspection and copying. Each matter for which an admission is requested must be stated separately.

198.2 Response to Requests for Admissions.

(a) Time for response. The responding party must serve a written response on the requesting party within 30 days after service of the request, except that a defendant in a suit governed by the Family Code served with a request before the defendant’s answer is due need not respond until 50 days after service of the request.

(b) Content of response. Unless the responding party states an objection or asserts a privilege, the responding party must specifically admit or deny the request or explain in detail the reasons that the responding party cannot admit or deny the request. A response must fairly meet the substance of the request. The responding party may qualify an answer, or deny a request in part, only when good faith requires. Lack of information or knowledge is not a proper response unless the responding party states that a reasonable inquiry was made but that the information known or easily obtainable is insufficient to enable the responding party to admit or deny. An assertion that the request presents an issue for trial is not a proper response.

(c) Effect of failure to respond. If a response is not timely served, the request is considered admitted without the necessity of a court order.

198.3 Effect of Admissions; Withdrawal or Amendment. Any admission made by a party under this rule may be used solely in the pending action and not in any other proceeding. A matter admitted under this rule is conclusively established as to the party making the admission unless the court permits the party to withdraw or amend the admission. The court may permit the party to withdraw or amend the admission if:

(a) the party shows good cause for the withdrawal or amendment; and

(b) the court finds that the parties relying upon the responses and deemed admissions will not be unduly prejudiced and that the presentation of the merits of the action will be subserved by permitting the party to amend or withdraw the admission.

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 198 lets a party narrow what is in dispute by asking the other side to admit specific facts, opinions, applications of law to fact, or the genuineness of documents. Each matter must be stated separately. The responding party generally has 30 days to admit, deny, or explain why it cannot do either, with 50 days for a family-law defendant served before its answer is due.

The deadline has teeth. If a response is not served on time, the request is considered admitted with no court order needed. A matter admitted this way is conclusively established against that party unless the court permits withdrawal or amendment — which it may allow on a showing of good cause where the other side will not be unduly prejudiced and the merits will be served.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you miss the deadline to respond to requests for admission in Texas?

The requests are deemed admitted automatically, without a court order. A deemed admission is conclusively established unless the court later permits you to withdraw or amend it.

Can you withdraw a deemed admission in Texas?

Yes, with the court's permission. The court may allow withdrawal or amendment on good cause if the party relying on the admission will not be unduly prejudiced and the merits will be served.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 198), published by the Texas Judicial Branch (txcourts.gov). Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas. The plain-English summary is original and draws on official sources. Last verified June 28, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: requests for admissionsRFAdeemed admissionsadmit or denyTRCP 198